On March 21, 2010, the childhood classic movie How to Train Your Dragon made its first appearance in theatres. The film presented a classic hero story, one that has become iconic to millions worldwide; the weakest boy in the Viking village transforms into the strongest man alive by befriending a mythical dragon. Many children left the theatres with a new understanding of friendship and an obsession with Toothless.
On June 13, 2025, the live action movie of How to Train Your Dragon was released in theatres. The movie was predicted to be a flop by social media; live-action remakes had been disappointing fans for years. However, the movie turned out to be a huge success! It accumulated $627 million globally and became a box office hit.
I had the pleasure of seeing the movie two days after its release. As a long-time fan, I was worried about this depiction of my favorite childhood classic; however, I was pleasantly surprised the moment I heard Mason Thames narrate the attack on Berk. This movie made me feel as if I was a kid again, watching Hiccup soar through the sky with Toothless in a world that seemed unimaginable. Mason Thames and Nico Parker as Hiccup and Astrid was a great casting choice because of their chemistry. Toothless looked realistic without losing his charm that endeared audiences to him in the first place and the music while he flew was exhilarating. Additionally, they expanded on Snoutlout’s character by making his dad visibly absent, justifying his increasing need for attention. The characters and scenes improved from the first movie.
The movie was not entirely perfect, as some casting choices were questionable. The comedic relief twins looked nothing alike. This served to be humorous in some ways, with lines such as, “Our mom can’t tell us apart.” However, their overall characters fell flat as their appearances broke the immersion. Nico Parker also did not look like Astrid, but she portrayed her character well. The movie has been hailed as the best live-action film in recent years, with some critiques noting their casting appearances and acting.
Although the movie is no longer shown in theaters, it is available for viewing on Peacock.
